Low Compression, Engine Warranty Denied
 

My compression is bad and Mazda won't warranty it since it has no driveability issues (starts well, no misfires), so even if you get bad test results you can't count on a new engine.

bring it to a different dealer. I've seen 6.9's get replaced (don't quote me on that) without any issues what soever. It's purely based on the mechanics working.

I took the fight straight to Mazda. It was a MNAO rep that denied me after the dealer told me of Mazda's policy. The dealership said it would probably start to have power loss issues once the weather got warmer and to bring it back then, but nothing so far up to about 80 degrees. Still starts easy, revs clean. Almost makes me wonder about the compression results.

You haven't stated what the compression numbers were, so I agree, I have to wonder about the compression results.

Keep in mind they should be normalized to sea level and 250rpm before you compare them against a chart.

Good news OP!

Not to threadjack, but just in case anyone wanted to know:

Front.
Attachment 225354

Rear.
Attachment 225355

Denied.

I'm in IDGAF mode. V8roadsters is supposedly coming out with a kit this year (pinching myself of course), so I'll put this Renesis in the ground when the time comes and then put in something that'll get the same MPG and also put down 450hp. I loved my Miata and I love my RX8, but this is pure bullshit.

Yeah, that rear rotor fails across every chart and dealer.

What was the reason for denying the warranty? Out of mileage? Out of time? Modifications they didn't like? Didn't have service records?

Honestly, if the only reason why they are not replacing it under warranty is because it's not having any drivability issues, then create drivability issues.

I'm sure someone here has bad ignition coils or spark plug wires sitting on their garage shelf they can send you. Just install them, and now you have a drivability issue to report.

How you can have 0 compression on the rear rotor, and not have some issue is beyond me.

So, sabotage your car, and get your replacement engine before the warranty expires.
Or, "sell" your car to your best friend, and have him bring the car in, and see if the dealer then gives him the engine replacement. Maybe they just don't like your face, and know they can push you around.

BC.

I just don't care. I'll put maybe 2K a year on it and I'm sure it'll be plenty fine for a few years till I can put a different engine in it. Mazda never saw my ugly face FWIW, and the dealer has every incentive to get my warranty claim approved. I think this is just Mazda's policy now. I highly doubt they'll replace an engine without checking ignition health either. They're dicks, and you can't fight city hall. I'm just putting out my data point in case more people start running into this.

None of those issues were even discussed, and it's got 35K and is warrantied until next November. They just don't replace engines that don't have other issues like power loss (misfire), inability to idle, inability to start, etc. the car runs like a champ otherwise. I have to get it smogged soon and I wonder if it fails if that could be used as an "issue". I know another member here had no idea his compression was bad until he went to get emissions tested. Sadly he was out of warranty by then.

Got any other dealers in the area?

When I had my engine replaced, I knew it was fading, I took it in and specifically asked for a compression test. I got higher test numbers than that, and the dealer asked for my service records, looked them over, and sent in the paperwork for approval on the warranty. I did not have to prove any driveability problem.

Most do not. Compression test failure is typically sufficient, though some dealers will also want to do a vacuum barometer test (which is the flip side of the compression coin).

If the dealer is insisting that they won't replace it with failing scores because you haven't stated a problem with the driveability, find another dealer and get it re-tested there complaining about power loss as you walk in.


Yes, it could fail emissions with compression that low (sniffer will fail almost for sure, OBD2 probably won't fail, visual inspection won't fail).

Don't just give up.

You have the wrong attitude, hence why they are walking all over you.

Anyway, good luck to you, since you don't care.

BC.

Suck a fuck, BC, your condescension is totally unwarranted. You don't know what I have or haven't tried or that I rolled over or didn't. I shouldn't have to pour sand in my intake to get it warrantied. I just want potential buyers to know that a low compression motor may not be merely a negotiating point with a seller as it may not get warrantied. Others have commented that there's no way these compression numbers can have no other issues, but, I can say otherwise. I brought it to the dealer initially complaining of a rough idle. I put on a new ignition since and it's much improved.

I didn't post in the other thread to get pity or something or to threadjack (honestly, sorry to that OP), just wanted to let a buyer be better informed. Maybe Mazda is running low on cores and are tightening their policy, there could be changes to their warranty process that you or I aren't aware of. As a person who works for an insurance company and occasionally has to deny claims and have people fly off the handle and threaten to sue or appeal or whatever, I know what it's like to be that MNAO guy I berated. I don't deny people and then give in if they bitch or just hope they go away. If I deny your claim, it's because I would go to court and defend that decision based on the policy language. If he's denying me and, when I ask who I can appeal to, he basically says, "No one.", I can be pretty damn sure Mazda has decided this is a legally defensible position (ethical is another thing, but anyway). Furthermore, they can't withhold the actual reason for denial of my claim (like some weird past issue with the car they can see on their end) without their ass ending up in a sling, so they wouldn't risk it. I legitimately believe this is their current approach to warranty claims.

If shit goes down by next November and it gets warrantied, fine. If not, no big deal, it's a second car, I never expected to have a rotary in it forever anyway. I bought it with the intention of building my realistic dream car, which involves an LSx.

Feel free to lock this thread, mods.

We'll see about the emissions, I'm due by August. I asked about the emissions issue with MNAO and they wouldn't give me a solid answer as to whether that would suffice, they started in on the emissions warranty at that point. Thanks for the advice, you seem like a very legit guy and are always willing to help and give advice from what I've observed. I'm just not that worried about it to be honest. Mazda remans are pretty dicey anyway, think I'll just ride this one into the ground and hope the email response I got from v8roadsters wasn't pie in the sky.

:fingersx:

Is Mazda running out of refurbished engines? Maybe they're getting tight so they can make what they have in stock last until the last of the S1s are beyond 8 years.

I have this mental image of SleepyZ standing in a bread line somewhere.

Ken

Plenty if engines in mazda's side

I've been watching V8 Roadsters as well. My buddy with an LS1 Miata used their kit and its top quality. Not this Hinson BS.
They told my buddy back in Jan 2012 they were going to start developing an RX8 kit but then got sidetracked due to all the MX5 kits they were building.

Also, I took my car into Mazda for a comp test as my car just barely failed when we did one with another club members tester.
My car passed at the Mazda dealer but before the test the service manager said it doesn't matter if the compression is low, if there's no check engine light on Mazda won't warranty the engine.
Since my engine passed I didn't have a need to argue but I'm guessing Mazda are getting tight with engine replacements or more likely the majority of dealers just have their heads up their asses.

Eh, either way my goals for the car won't happen with a rotary under the hood. I was thinking the summer temps might cause my car to act up (dealer said the same, come back in the summer and we should be able to produce an issue) given the compression numbers, but nope. Still revs clean, starts easy, idles well now with the new ignition. I have to smog it in the next month so we'll see how that goes. In the meantime, I can be patient v8roadsters . . .

Someone send him an used apex tip to drop down the LIM.

Why? The man clearly doesn't give a shit.

Because when you do a LSx swap, why sell a reman for a grand or two when you can sell a shit engine for peanuts

Touche

I can't be the only one who is intrigued by this response am i?

Please elaborate.

Or lets not. That response was 3 weeks ago anyway.

This guy has 0 compression on the rear rotor and no power loss? LOL
Edit:misread a post. Still this guy should do SOMETHING